| Before I adopted my Himalayan, the breeder told me that he had
dermatitis... the little scabs you are describing. They did not seem
to bother him nor affect his appetite. They were cultured and came
back negative for mange and ringworm so the only 2 alternatives left to
rule out were flea allergy dermatitis or food allergy.
The breeder did have a flea problem last year. A cat does not have to
be covered with fleas in order to have a reaction to them. If there
are one or two fleas and the cat gets bitten and it is allergic, a scab
will form (pustule). The breeder changed his diet to strictly Iams and
gave him weekly pyrethrin baths (shampoos that contain pyrethrin like
Mycodex) and the problem cleared up. We don't have a flea problem
where I live and when I took the cat he had only one scab which is
since gone and hasn't returned. My guess is that it was the fleas.
Although the house was by no means infested, some were still there.
I wouldn't be so sure that fleas aren't the culprit in this case. Try
treating the problem as both..start with the baths and also change the
diet and see if it helps.
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| Couple of thoughts...
Cat allergies manifest themselves as a skin problem rather than as
upper respiratory problems.
Cats can be allergic to inhaled things as well as ingested things. I
have a cat that has an inhalant allergy. This manifests itself as a
rash on her face, neck, ears and the back of her head. You need to
rule out a food allergy first, then if the problem still persists, take
your cat to an allergist to find out what he is allergic too. There
are veterinary dermatologists that can perform allergy testing on
animals. Ask your vet to refer you to one
To rule out the food allergy, you will have to put him on a strict
lamb/rice diet for a minimum of three weeks. If there is no noticeable
change in the rash after three weeks, then the allergy is probably not
food related. If your cat won't eat the prepared lamb/rice foods, try
mixing lamb baby food with cooked rice and see if he will eat that.
That is what I did for my cat sometimes. That was before we found the
Lick Your Chops, which she did like. I also bought ground lamb and then
nuked it in the microwave to cook it, and mixed it with rice. Also,
when you serve the lamb/rice food, serve it at room temperature. Cats
don't usually go for food cold from the fridge.
If the rash is on the back, base of the tail, bag legs, and tummy, it
is more likely a flea allergy. Inhaled and ingested allergens tend to
cause a rash on the head, neck, ears, etc.
My cat is being treated by occasional use of antihistamines, and
frequent bathing with a special allergy shampoo and conditioner. The
shampoo and conditioner are part of a line of products called
"Veterinarian's Best" that was created by a vet in Southern California.
These products are made especially for dogs and cats that suffer from
allergies. The products are very mild, and are made with natural
ingredients like Aloe Vera. The shampoo and conditioner help keep my
cat from itching the rash by helping to reduce the itch. The product
line also has a dietary supplement that contains fatty acids that I put
on my cat's food. This also helps keep her skin and coat in good
condition. The other product that the line offers is a "hot spot"
spray for between baths. I use it on my cat if her rash gets really
itchy and I don't have a chance to bathe her. This contains some
ingredients to stop the itching and help the skin heal. I bought the
Veterinarian's Best products at the Pet Fair that was held here in
June, but you can find them at pet stores. I have seen these products
at Premium Pet Mart in San Jose, which is where I do all my cat food
shopping.
Jo
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